Islay

Islay map from Wikipedia

Among whisky lovers, Islay is synonymous for peat. But not all Islay distilleries produce peat monsters.

There is some speculation that the art of distilling uisge beatha may have found its ways from Irleand to Scotland first via Islay as this is one of the Scottish places closest to Irleand.

In the mid-19th century Islay had a much larger population than today’s 3500. At that time there were more than twenty whisky distilleries on the island. Today there are eight. In relation to the number of people living there, this is still extraordinary.

Ardbeg – Bowmore – Bruichladdich – Bunnhahabhain – Caol Ila – Kilchoman – Lagavulin – Laphroaig

Port Ellen